William edward gibe



(No Model.)

W. E. GIBB.

TIME SIGNAL.

No. 464,016. Patented Deo. 1, 1891.

ma Ncmms paens no., worn-uws, mmm uuuuuuu c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM EDVARD GIBB, OF IYRGO PARK, ENGLAND.

TIME-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,016, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed November 18, 1890. Serial No. 371,889. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD GIEB, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Pyrgo Park, in the county of Essex, England, have invented an Improved Device for Measuring Short Intervals of Time, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for measuring short intervals of timeas, for instance, where a photographic sensitive surface has to be exposed to light for a very few seconds; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide means whereby an index-hand can be readily set to the required period of time which is to be measured; second, to enable the measuring device to be set in motion at the instant required; third, to produce an audible sound during the period of time which is to be measured, and, fourth, to cause the index-hand to stop directly the desired period of time which is to be measured has elapsed. I effect these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view from the back with the back plate removed. Fig. 2 is a view from the back with the back plate in place. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a view from the left hand, and Fig. 5 a view from the right hand.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts in the several gures.

d is a cylindrical case of metal or other material, and having at its front a dial b, divided into spaces representing a certain number of seconds, which again are further subdivided into fifths or other fractions of a second. The dial b is provided with a hand or index c, carried upon a spindle d,which turns in holes in the parallel plates e f, which form a frame and are held together by stays g g g. The spindle cl is made to make a sufcientpart of a single revolution, when required, by means of the coiled spring h. At the other end of the spindle d at the back of the case is fixed a knob or handle t', by which the spindle can be turned so as to wind up the Spring 7L, and adjust the index-hand c to any desired point, the spring being prevented from uncoiling by a ratchet-Wheel and pawl t in the usual way. I also provide a knob or button l, by pressing which the spindle cl is released, in the manner hereinafter described, and the index-hand c allowed to return to its normal position.

In order that the hand c may so return at exactly the requisite speed, so that its point passes between two of the principal divisions on the dial I) in exactly one second, I connect a train of Itoothed wheels 'nt m m2 and pinions n n fn? to the main index-spindle (l, and upon the spindle of the last pinion n2 I tix a toothed escapement-wheel o, the teeth of which act upon an escapement p of the usual form, which is accordingly made to oscillate rapidly backward and forward as the wheel 0 revolves. The spindle of the cscapement j) also carries an arm r, provided. at its end with a small hammer s, which as it oscillates strikes a bell 't or other sounding device, so that when the apparatus is in action the sound is audible.

By carefully adjusting the escapement p and the oscillating` hammer s the speed of the index-hand c can be readily adjusted, so that it passes over each principal division of thc dial l) in exactly one second.

n3 is a pinion, which is also driven by the toothed wheel m2, and its spindle carries the toothed wheel m3, which drives the pinion or cylinder n4, and QI, is a wire, which, when pressed lightly against the teeth of the pinion n4, instantly stops the revolution of the whole train of wheels, but when removed allows them to revolve freely.

In order to insure the continuance of the movement of the index-hand c if the pressure upon the knob Zshould be removed, I use the following arrangement, as shown in Fig. 2: The inner end of the knob Z presses upon a lever w, turning` upon a center fr, the end of the lever at w pressing upon the lever y, which carries at its other end the wire u, the pressure of which upon the pinion or cylinder fn* prevents the index-hand c from moving round, as already described, until the knob Z is pressed.

is a lever turning upon the center l and having an angular notch at 2, which is pressed against the angular end of the lever y by a spring 3, so as to hold 'it back and prevent it from returning when the pressure upon the knob Z ceases, and so stopping the revolution of the index-hand c.

Upon the spindle d of the index-hand o is IOO fixed a projecting pin or cam t, which raises the lever .2' and allows the levery to be forced out by the spring 5 and the wire u to be pressed against the pinion n", and so stop the further movement of the index-hand c, such stoppage taking,` place at the moment when the index-hand has returned to the point marked zero (0) upon the dial.

6 is a spring by which the lever w and the knob Z are returned to their normal position when pressure upon the latter is removed.

The action of the mechanism described is as follows: The index-hand c is Iirst turned round by the knob t until it points to the number of seconds and fractions of seconds which are to be measured for the exposure of a photographic sensitive surface. At the moment when the exposure commences the knob Z is pressed down and the lever w presses back the lever y, one end of 'which removes the wire u from the pinion aiwhile its other end is caught and held in the notch 2 in the lever z. The train of wheels and the index-hand c are instantly set in motion by the spring h, and at the same time the bell t is sounded by the hammer s, operated by the escapementp and the escapement-Wheel 0. At the moment when the zero-point is reached by the hand c and the exposure is completed the projecting' pin et has raised the lever .e and released the lever y, the Wire u coming in contact with the pinion n4, stopping the further movement of the index-hand and the sound of the bell t.

In Fig. 3 additional dials, numbered I to VI, are shown, each of which is provided with an index-hand. These index-hands have no connection With the mechanism described, but may be turned round by hand to record the exact time of exposure of different sensitive plates or surfaces having corresponding numbers 'upon them. The case a is provided with a hinged glass front and with a metallic back, through which the knob or handle t' projects.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

I. In a device for measuring` short intervals of time, the combination of the dial l), indexhand c, spindle (l, spring` 7L, knob t', toothed Wheels on m m2, pinions n ln n2, escapement- Wheel o, and escapement p, all substantially as set forth and shown.

2. The combination ofthe dial b, index-hand c, spindle d, spring 7L, knob t', toothed wheels` m m m2, pinions an n2, escapement-Wheel 0, escapement p, hammer s, and bell t, all suhstantially as set forth and shown.

In combination with the spring` 7L, toothed wheels m m m2, pinions n n n2, escapement- Wheel o, an escapement p, the toothed wheel m3,pinioi1s n3 n4, and movable wire u, substantially as set forth and shown.

4. In combination with the pinion n, driven by the spring,` 71 Wheels m m m2 m3, pinions n n n2 as, the Wire u, lever y, lever z, notch 2, lever w, knob Z, projecting pin 4, and springs 3, 5, and G, all substantially as set forth and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

' WILLIAM EDWARD GIBI'I.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL B. MOZLEY,

l2 Fenchurch Street, E. C., Solicitor.

CHARLES HALL,

4G Lombard St., E. O., Clerk, London, Eng. 

